Dr. Michael Sitton

E-mail: Michael.Sitton@enmu.edu

Dr. Michael Sitton, appointed in July 2005 as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Eastern New Mexico Universtiy, is a native of North Carolina , and came to New Mexico from Roanoke , Virginia , where he was Associate Provost at Hollins University .  He also served Hollins as Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs and as Music Department Chair, and previously taught at Coker College in South Carolina and at the Conservatory of Central Illinois.  A pianist and composer, Sitton received his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina’s Mars Hill College, pursuing graduate study at the University of Kentucky, the Schola Cantorum of Paris, and the University of Illinois, where he received his Doctor of Music al Arts degree as a student of Kenneth Drake. During his performing career, he has been active both as a solo recitalist, exploring a special interest in French piano repertoire, and as a collaborative musician. He has performed with ensembles including the Hollins Chamber Players and Hollins Piano Quartet, and was keyboard principal for the Roanoke Symphony prior to his move to New Mexico .  He has appeared as concerto soloist with that orchestra as well as others. Honors have included the Harriet Hale Woolley Scholarship of the Fondation des Etats-Unis for study in Paris, the Leschetizky New York Debut Prize, the French Embassy performance prize from the French Piano Institute, and the Cabell Fellowship and Freitag Faculty Legacy Award from Hollins University.  Sitton’s work as a composer, principally of choral music, has earned a series of Composers’ Awards from ASCAP as well as publications and commissions, and he has also been published as a writer of articles on historical and pedagogical topics.